TRAINING: Business as usual here at American Top Team - sink or swim.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I’m not actually sure (laughs). I made my professional debut in 2009. MMA kind of found me; it was a blessing in disguise. I was going down the wrong path and the rest is history.

What ranks and titles have you held? Judo black belt, Commonwealth bronze medalist, Vision featherweight champion and Supremacy featherweight champion.

Do you have any heroes? No one has ever saved me from anything to be my hero.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? For a change I am lost for words. I get close to tears when I think about it. Anyone who knows me or is going to get to know me knows that I came from nothing and to get to UFC today is really unbelievable.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I went to the school of hard knocks with a degree in scrapping.

What was your job before you started fighting? Plumbing and heating engineer

Favorite striking technique: Body-head combo